Amie Matusko, the deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case, said the jury did not believe Gonzalez-Merwin’s story that his sexual encounter with his accuser was consensual. But she added that Gonzalez-Merwin believed his own story, which meant he didn’t understand what he did was rape.

“That makes him a dangerous offender, in the state’s view,” she said.

Gonzalez-Merwin chose not to speak when given the chance to address the judge.

Judge David Connell said the five-day trial was difficult for the victim, who had to testify for seven hours about the April 2017 incident.

“That night in question,” he said to Gonzalez-Merwin, “you took something that is not easy to replaced from her: her trust in other people and her trust in herself. The sentence is certainly appropriate in that light.”

Subscribe to Daily Headlines

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Anthony Rimel covers weekend events, education, courts and crime and can be reached at anthony.rimel@lee.net, 541-758-9526, or via Twitter @anthonyrimel.